French finance minister Christine Lagarde calls off visit to Amherst College

Associated Press photoFrance's Finance and Economy Minister Christine Lagarde, seen here at a Parisian supermarket Wednesday, has called off her planned visit to Amherst this weekend.

AMHERST – Christine Lagarde, the cabinet member who is in the running to take over the International Monetary Fund, has canceled her visit to Amherst College this weekend.

Lagarde, Frances minister for finance and industry, was to have spoken at forum Saturday afternoon and receive an honorary degree at Amherst’s commencement on Sunday. She informed the college Friday that she was not attending.

The former head of the IMF, Frenchman Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was forced to resign this week after he was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel worker in New York City.